(Note: This excerpt does not reflect how the book's 175 pages appear in print.)
This chapter is an introduction to genealogical records available in the United States, including the Armenian Genealogical Society's microfilm collection. All records pertinent to your family should be considered and searched.*
The following table lists which records to search for any particular need.
| 1. If You Need | 2. Look First In | 3. Then Search |
| Age | Census, Vital Records, Cemeteries. | Military Records, Taxation. |
| Birth date | Vital, Church, or Bible Records. | Cemeteries, Obituaries, Census, Military. |
| Birthplace | Vital, Church, or Census Records. | Newspapers, Obituaries |
| City\parish foreign birth | Church Records, Genealogy, Naturalization and Citizenship. | Vital Records, Obituaries, History, Emigration and Immigration. |
| Country of foreign birth | Emigration and Immigration, Census, Naturalization, Citizenship, Church. | Military Records, Vital Records, Newspapers, Obituaries. |
| County origins and bounds | History, Maps. | Gazetteers. |
| Death | Vital, Church, or Probate Records, Cemeteries, Obituaries. | Newspapers, Bibles, Military Records. |
| Divorce | Court Records, Vital Records. | Newspapers. |
| Ethnicity | Minorities, Native Races, Societies. | Church Records, Emigration and Immig., Naturalization and Citizenship. |
| Historical background | History, Periodicals. | Minorities. |
| Immigration date | Emigration & Immigration, Naturalization and Citizenship, Genealogy. | Census, Newspapers, Biography. |
| Living relatives (and adoptions) | Genealogy, Directories, Court Rec., Obituaries. | Census, Biography, Societies, Church or Probate Records. |
| Maiden name | Vital or Church Records, Newspapers, Bible Records. | Cemeteries, Military Records, Probate Records, Obituaries. |
| Marriage | Vital, Church or Bible Records, Census, Newspapers | Cemeteries, Military Records, Probate Records, Naturalization and Citizenship, Land and Property. |
| Occupation | Census, Directories, Emig. Immig | Newspapers, Court Records. |
| Parents, Children, and other family members | Vital or Church Records, Census, Probate Records, Obituaries. | Bible Records, Newspapers, Emigration and Immigration. |
| Physical description | Military Records, Biography. | Natural\Citizenship, Vital Records, Emigration\Immigration, Genealogy. |
| Place-finding aids | Gazetteers, Maps. | History, Periodicals. |
| Place (town) of residence if you know only State | Census (indexed), Geneal., Military, Vital Records, records with State index. | Biography, Probate Records, History. |
| Places family has lived | Census, Land and Property, History | Military Records, Taxation, Obituary. |
| Previous research (compiled genealogy) | Genealogy, Periodicals, Societies. | History, Biography. |
| Record-finding aids | Archives and Libraries, Societies. | Periodicals. |
| Religion | Church Records, History, Biography | Bible Records, Cemeteries, Genealogy. |
| Social Activities | History, Biography, Newspaper, Soc. | Town Records, Court Records. |